Automatic firearm.



PATENTED MAR. 12; 1907.

W. MASON. AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION mum In. 20.1905.

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PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

v No. 846,591.

4 SHEETB-BHEET 2.

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No. 846,591. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907. W MASON AUTOMATIC FIREARM. APPLICATION FILED n11. 20.1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 No. 846,591. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907. W. MASON. AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 20.1906.

4 SHEETS-11331 4.

WILLIAM MASON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHES- TER REPEATING ARMS CO., OF NEW HAVEN,

, RATION.

AUTOMATIO FIREARM.

n g drawings and the letters of marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said draw ings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a broken view in right-hand side elevation of my improved automatic firearm;

Fi n 2, a corresponding left-hand side view of a I I the arm; Fig. 3, a broken reverse plan view of the arm to show the loading-opening in the bottom of the gun-frame and the longitudinal finger opening in the cartridge-carrier; Fig. 4, a broken plan View of the gun; Fig. 5; a broken view of the gun in vertical longitudinal section, showing the positions of its several parts when it is closed; Fig. 6,.a corresponding view of the gun with the parts in the positions they have 7, a detached view in side elevation of the lower tang of the gun with the several parts mounted, therein; Fig. 8, a plan view thereof; s

Fig; Q a ,view in transverse section on the line a, bofflFig; 6 looking in the directionof the arrow 0; F i 10, a corresponding view on the line (1 e oft he same figure looking in the I direction of the arrow f; Fig. 10 a corre, f 35' sponding view on the line 9 hjof Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow i; Fig. 11, a detached view 111 rear elevation of the cartridgegate; Fig. 12, a detached edge view thereof; Fig. 13, a detached plan view of the breechblock; Fig. 14, a view thereof in right-hand side elevation; Fig. 15, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 16, a viewthereof in front elevation; Fig. 17, a view thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 18, a detached view'of the breechblock handle; Fig. 19, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 20, a view thereof in rear eleva- VA tion; Fig. 21, a detached view in side elevation of the cartridge-carrier; Fig. 22, a plan view thereof; Fig. 23, a reverse plan view thereof; Fig. 24, a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 25, a view thereof in rear elevation; Fig. 26, a detached view in side elevation of the breech-block lever; Fig. 27, a'view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 28, a view Specification of Letters Patent. Application iiled March 20,1905. Seria1No.260,982.

when it is open; Fig.

thereof in rear elevation; Fi 29, a lan ,view thereof with the three ant' iction-ro ers indicated by broken lines; Fig. 30, a detached plan view of the rollers, shown as separated Fig.. 31, a detached view of the rollers in side elevation; Fig. 32, a detached view in side elevation of the timing-lever 33, a view thereof in front elevationf Fig. 3.4, a plan view of the timing-piece Fig. 35, aview thereofin side elevation.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of automatic firearms in which the extraction and ejection of the'spent shell, the

the breech mechanism acting underthe inbeing to produce a simple," compact s efiective, and convenient arm.

consists in an'automatic firearm havin cer-' and pointed out in the claims.

shown, I employ a gun-frameor receiver 2,

end of its right-hand wall, a gas-escape openingl i in the forward end ofits,left-liai d wan, a

portion of its crownmgtop and'i its jbottom extremeforward end to form 'an' :open n 6 for the reception of the lower'tang-7, an a cartridge-loading oplening 8, whichis reality a continuation of t e tang openingfi,ibut for convenience described as a separatl'opening passage into the frame 2 when the lower tang is in place in the opening 6. Theejectionopening 3 and the gas-esca e o ening 4 are In carrying u my invention, ashef inff 8o having an e ection-'opening.3 inthg .f wfld andle-opening 5, ccnpying the 1niddle a i l w p 5 cut. away except for a shortfdis tanc atit's' because it constitutes, in effect, an opening or located directly opposite eac ot er, forming, as it were, a transverse passage through the".

"The said CONNECTICUT, A CORP O katenteu March 12, 1907.

recocking of the hammer, and the loading of a cartridge into the gun-barrel is effected by fiuence -of the gases of explosion, the ob ect f.

With these ends in view-,my v

tain details of "construction and com inations of parts, as will be hereinafter described,

such a gas-escape opening, the breech-block might be broken or deformed by the force of the gas bending it from left to right toward the ejection-opening 3. W 1th respect to the said handle-opening 5, it is located to the rear of the rear ends of the ejection-openin 3 and the gas-escape 0 ening 4, the forwar ends of which'extend 'orward in close proximity to the rear end of the gun-barrel 9. The top of the gun-frame or receiver 2 is therefore left solid at a point over the ejectionopening 3 and the gas-escape opening 4 and over the forward end of the breech-block 17 when the same is in its closed position.

At its rear end the gun-frame is closed to form at the rear end of its main chamher7 9 a recoil or abutment-shoulder for the breechblock 17, which is of the so-called balanced typethat is to say, it is a breecliblock which is not positively locked in its closed and recoil-taking position but weighted with reference to the energy developed by the explosion of the cartridge to be used in the gun, so that its inertia takes the initial shock of recoil. My improved gun therefore belongs in the class of automatic balanced breech-block uns.

For manual y opening the gun preparatory to firing theiirst cartridge or in case of amisfire or when it is desired to unloadthe gun by withdrawing a loaded cartridge from the gunbarrel 9, I employ a breech-block handle 10, Figs. 4, 18, 19, and 20,-arran ed transversely withrespect to thetop of t e gun-frame 2 and in length exceeding the width thereof.

The ends of this handleare formed with finger-cuts 11, flanked-at their forward ends by ears 12 and at their rear ends by knurled-or roughened fingers 13, extending outwardly beyond the planes of the side walls of the frame 2, so as to be readilyengaged bythe finger and thumb, respectively. The said handle is also formed with a centrally-arranged screw-hole 14, receiving a screw 15, entering ascrew-hole 16 in the-forward end of a longitudinally-reciprocating non-rotatable balanced breech-block 17. The said screwhole 16 is bisected, as it were, by-a longitudinal slot 18, the ends of which respectively-receive two lu s 19, dependin from the center of'the lower ace of the hand e andlocated on opposite sides of the screw-hole 14 therein,- whereby the handle is rigidly connected with the breech-block 17 The upper face of :the handle 10 is convexedand its lower face concaved, Fig. 20, to conform to the rounding top of the gun-frame 2 and the rounding top ofthe breech-block 17 The roundingtop of the breech-block rises, as it were, into the o ening 5 in the gun-frame and completely 0 oses the said opening when the gun is closed. The said breech-block 17 is formed upon its sides with bearing-ribs 20, which bear upon the inner faces of the side walls of At its forward end the the gun-frame 2.

.main body of the breech-block and fitting into and sliding back and forth in a second- ,ary chamber 79", formed at the forward end of the main chamber 79 of the gun-frame by thickening the rounding top thereofand the side walls thereof at the upper forward cornerthereof, so asto form a reinforce, the rear end of which forms a shoulder 2 corresponding to the shoulder -17 formed between-the rear end of the closure 21 and the forward end of the main body of :thebreech-block. The said chamber '79 is very much smaller than the main chamber 79,and thereforebetterconfines andcontrols the sp ent cartridge shells as they are extracted from the gun barrel. The saidextension or closure is provided on its right-hand side with a springactuated extractor-hook 22 o'f-ordinary construction and-has a-lon ejector-slot- 23'formed in itsleft hand side for the reception of a fixed leaf-like ejector 24, Fig. 10", projecting inwardly from :the left-hand wall of the gunframe. A longitudinally-arranged arm 25, depending from "the closure 21 aforesaid, is ob iquely cut away at its .forward end to form a-\wedge 26-forthe-operation ofthe cartridge-gate27,F-igs. 9, 10,10, 11, and -12,to 9

be described-later on; The loweredge ofrthe arm 25 is formed with a'cartridge-receiving groove 28, flanked at :its rear end by a cartridge-stop shoulder 29, back of which the arm is formed with-a cam-face 30, which before the block reaches its open 'position'engages with the upwardlyrejecting operating-arm 81 of the cartri ge-carrier 32 and I swings thesame onits-pivot'33 .fromits de pressed or cartridgeweceiving toitselevated or cartridge-delivering position. A firingpin 34,m0unted in :thesaid breechblock,-1s encircled by-afiring pin spring 35 andllimited in endwise play byasto -pin 36, enterin a short slot 37,formed,in-t e loweriface-ofzt e rearendof-thepin.

In the u per corner of its rear end :the breech blocir 17 :is formed with a cut 38 for the reception of three antifriction-rollers .39, 39, and 39 -Fi s. 30-and 31, mounted on a pin 40, on whio :theyare free .toturn independently. The middle roller "39 which is larger indiameter-than the end-rollers 39 39, is adapted'toride-upon the inner .face of the rounding top ofthegumframe 2-and reduces the friction-of the operation of the block, which as it moves backand forth causes the said roller to be reversed in the-direction of its rotation. The-said end rollers'39'39 are respectively engaged with curved bearingfaces 41 41, formed in the upper end of a breech block lever 42 and separated-from restraint from the said lever, while, on the other hand, the rolling of the end-rollers 39 39 on the bearing-faces 41 is not restrained by the coaction of the roller 39 with the gunframe 2. The said lever 42, Figs. 26, 27, 28, and 29, is hung upon a pivot 43in the lower tang 7 of the gun, carries an antifrictionroller 44, turning on a pin 45, and is formed. with a large opening 46, through which the roller 44 is engaged by the forward end of a fiat breech-block spring 47 the rear end of which is secured by a screw 48 to the upper tang 49, which consists of an integral rearward extension of the gunframe 2. A screw 50, located in the tang 49 in position to engage with the spring 47, regulates the tension thereof. Under this construction the flat spring 47 exerts a constant effort through the said lever 42 and through the antifriction-rollers 39 39 to push the breech-block 17 forward into its closed position. When in this position, a bevel 51 at the forward end of the spring 47 engages with the antifrictionroller 44 at a point back of the vertical center thereof and above the axis thereof, and therefore so as to exert an effort to swing the said lever forward and downward, whereby its upper end is crowded against the said roller 39 39, so as to exert a constant effort to hold the breech-block 17 in its closed position, as shown by Fig. 5. On the other hand, when the un is open, as shown by Fig. 6, the said roller 44, although not engaged with the said bevel 51, is engaged by a point in the concaved bearing-face 52 of the forward end of the spring, which acts immediately to return the breech-block into its closed position. As shown, I employ a buffer 53, of vulcanized fiber, located at the rear'end of the main chamber 79 in the gun-frame and engaged by the rear end of the breech-block when the same reaches the limit of its rearward excursion. This buffer is formed with a re cess 54 to clear the upper end of the lever 42 when the same is rocked back when he gun is opened. A screw-bolt 55, passing through the upper tang 49 and the rear end of the lower tang 7 and through the forward end of the stock 56, secures the said parts together. The lever 42, when constructed and arranged as described, enables me to employ a flat bolt-spring and secure a marked economy of space.

- The cartridge-carrier 32, which swings upon a pivot 33, is formed for the reception thereof with an elon ated pivot-hole 57 extending lengthwise with the carrier and endowing the same with a capacity for slight longitudinal movement against the tension of a coiled spring 58, located in a spring-chainber 59 in the form of a deep hole entering the rear end of the carrier and intersecting the elongated pivot-hole 57, the said spring being located between the bottom of the hole 57 and the forward face of the pivot 33.

This construction permits the entire carrier to move rearward slightly under. the shock caused by the impingement of the camface 30 against the carrier-arm 31 when the breech-block 17 recoils.

At its rear end the carrier 32- is formed with a depending nose 60, coacting with a doubly-beveled lug 61, located upon the upper face of the extreme forward end of a flat carrier-spring 62, located within the chambered lower tang 7 and secured to the righthand side wall thereof by means of a screw 63 passing through the extreme rear end of the said spring. When the breech-block recoils, the cam-face 30 strikes the carrier-arm 3.1 with sufficient force to overcome the tension of the carrier-spring 62 and cause the nose 60 of the carrier to ride from the rear to the forward face of the lug 61 thereof, the carrier being lifted to its cartridge-delivering position, from which, however, it is free to drop into its intermediate or cartridge-loading position on account of the play between the forward face of the lug 61 and the said nose 60. In the forward movement of the breech-block 17 the bevels 64 of theclosure 21 on age with the bevels 65 of the carrier, where hy the tension of the spring 62 is again overcome and the nose 60 caused to ride from the forward to the rear face of the lug 61, after which the said spring holds the carrier in its depressed or cartridge-receiving position. When the gun is loaded, the carrier is manually swung upward into its intermediate or cartridge-loading position by pressing upward on its lower face with suflicient s ring 62 and cause the nose 60 to ride over t 1e lug 61.

The inner faces of the side flanges 66 at the force to overcome the tension of the forward end of the carrier 32 are formed with corresponding concave cartridge-receiw. ing grooves 67, which combine to form a cartridge-chamber 67 and the rear walls 68 of which combine to form a cartridge-stop. Near their forward ends the flanges 66 are formed with transverse clearance-notches 69 for the clearance, respectively, of the extractor 22 and the integral fingers 70 ,located opposits the extractor and respectively arranged above and below the ejector-slot 23, formed in the left-hand side of the bolt-like closure 21, as already described. Under this construction and arran ement the ejector 24 passes back and fort between said fin ers 70, which su port the head of the s ell against tractor 22, and by their position, as explained, above and below the path of the ejector 24 determine the expulsion of the shell from left to right in a horizontal plane assing through the axis of the gun-barre The said flanges 66 are separated by a centrallyarranged longitudinal finger-o ening 71, around which the lower face of the carrier is ITO the t rust of the hook of the exrecessed, as at 72, to facilitate the access of the finger to the said opening 7 1.

At the extreme 32 its lower face is cut away to form two notches 7 3, the rear walls 74 of which act together to form a loading-shoulder, which may or maynot be used, as desired. When this loading-shoulder is used, the sportsman passes a cartridge up through the loading; opening 8 of the gun-frame and introduces it into the rear end of the hole 87, leading into the tubular magazine 73, having previously pushed the carrier upwardagamst the tension of its gpring into its in termediate or cartridge-lea. ing position. Supposing that there are now no cartridges in the Ina-ga zine the nose of the cartridge will be en aged with the follower 75 therein and pus the back into the magazine said follower forward in the tube 73against the tension of the magazine follower-spring 76. As soon as the head of the cartridge has been ushed forward of the said loadingshoul or formed by the walls 74 the head end of the cartridge is slightly elevated by the sportsman,-who also at the same time slightly lets up on his forward end thrust upon the cartridge, whereby the spring 76 will at once act to push the cartridge rearward until its head is engaged with the said shoulder, after which-the cartridge-carrier 32 will be held in its loading positionby the partlyloaded cartridge, Another cartridge is now fed intothe un,,so as to take the place of the first cartri ge. The second cartridge in turn is utilized to hold the cartridge-carrier in its loading position, and so on until the magazine has been filled. The fin er-opening 71 affords clearance for the cartridges as they are being loaded and facilitates t is loadin operation.- In case a cartrid e has been fe out of the ma azine ,7 3 into t e chamber-67- of thecartri ge-carrier it may be pushed by engaging its head from below through the finger-o ening.

The cartridges are fed into the chamber 67, when the carrier is in its depressed posi tion, from which the carrier is lifted into its elevated position by the breech-block, when the same moves back into its open position. Then when the breech-block moves forward the forward edge of the arm of the closure 21 will engage with the head of the cartridge and push the same forward into a bushing 77 located, as shown, in the breech end of the gun-barrel 9, but not necessarily employed. It should be explained in this connection that by contracting the forward end of the main chamber 79, so as to form the so-called secondary chamber 79 the cartridges which are fed into the said chamber 79 are measurably confined and have less opportunity l the recoil after it than they would otherwise have for being rapid action of the parts of the breech mechanism of the gun.

forward end of the carrier i longitudinal For the purpose of retaining the cartridges in the tubular magazine and preventing them from being fed out of the same otherwise than one at a time I employ a cartridge-gate 27, located in a vertical recess 78, formed in the left-hand side of the forwardend wall of the main chamber-7.9 of the gun-frame. This gate swings, in a plane at a right angle to :the axis .of the magazine upon a heavypin 80, extending forward through the forward end of the gun-frame andrecciwi in its projecting forward end the lower Y end o a leaf-spring 81, located in a groove 82 in the forward face of" the gun-frame and having its upper end furnished with a knuckle 83, set into a groove 84, formed in the forward face of thegun-frameto rsceive.it,-. asshown inFig. 9. At its upper end the gate is formed with a bevel 85 for-coaetion with the w e 26 aforesaid. Just before the breech-bloc 17 niiovcs forward into its closed position the wedge 26 engages with the said bevel .85 andswings the gate from right to left sufficiently to clear the flange 86 of the gate from the hole 87, formed in the forward end of the gun-frame 2 for the passage of the cartridgcsforward into and rearward from the tubularmagazine 73, the rear end of which is threaded for-be' screwed into the enlargedthreaded forwar end of this hole .87. With thi-sgatethe cartridges can be fed out of the magazine only one at a time, and then only by the opening of the gate by the closing of the breech-block. The breech-block and the pivotal cartridgecarrier are by preference constructed and proportioned with regard to the len th of the cartridges to be used so that the hrsti. ya, the rearmost-cartridge is fed nearly out of the tubular magazine .73 and the hole 87 in the gun-frame so as to rest almostentirely on the cartridge-cerrierwhen the. gun

is fired, it being necessary only thatthenose I of the cartridge should cxtend forwardefar enough to keep the second cartridge with the headof which it .is engaged inplace, it being understood that at this time the cartridgegate is 0 en, as it always is, when the gun is closed. n this connection it is to be borne in mind that the action of the gun, being automatic, is exceedingly rapid and that in its rearward movement, following the explosion of a cartridge in the n-barrel, the mechblock acts upon the pivotal carrier to lift the same and present the next cartridge so quickly that the distance the magazines ring 76 must move the first cartridge after t is gun has been fired in order to get it into position for being lifted by the carrier must e reduced to the minimum. In case the first cartridge should be thrown forward by has been entirely fed out of the tubularmagazine 73 and hole87 its nose thrown about and displaced by the extremely is engaged with a bevel 27 formed 11 on the gate 27. Then as the cartridge is li ted the said bevel pushes it rearward and prevents it from having any portion of its nose sheared off.

When the breech-block is in its closed position, it holds the cartridge-gate in its open position, as has been explained. Therefore if it is desired to empty the magazine without operating the gun this may be done by simply lifting the carrier which will permit the magazinespring to eject all of the cartridges in the magazine. I am thus enabled to take advantage of the holding of the gate open by the breech-block to empty the magazine speedily and without opening the gun. More than this, if the user of the arm desires he may remove one or more or all of the cartridges just as suits him best, because the carrieralways remains under the control of his finger. if for an instant he lets up on the upward pressure of the carrier, the same will be pushed down into position to cut off the egress of any more cartridges from the magazine.

As the breech-block 17 moves rearward its cam-face 88 engages with the forward edge of the hammer 89 and swings'the same rearward on its pivot 90 until its cocking-notch 91 is entered by the forward end 92 of a sear 93, hung on a pin 94, also-serving for the trigger 95 which is constructed so that it cannot act directly upon the rearend 96 of the. sear, but only through the intermediation of a coupling-leaf 97, located at the forward end of a sliding pivotal timing-piece 98, attached by a pivot 99 to the lower arm 100 of a timing-lever 101, having a long tubular bearing 102, receiving a pin 103, mounted in the upper rear corners of the opposite side flanges of the rear chambered portion of the lower tang 7. The upper arm 104 of the said timing-lever 101 extends forward and isengaged with and depressed by a cam 105, Fig. 15, formed upon the finger-like extreme rear end of the left-hand wall of the breech-block 17. A coiled spring 106, having one end in 'serted into a socket 107, formed in the timing-lever 101 and its projecting end engaged with a shoulder 108 at the rear end of the timing-piece 98, exerts a constant effort to depress the leaf 97 of the timing-piece and to lift the arm 104 of the timing-lever. When the breech-block moves forward into its fullyclosed position, its cam 105 rides over the forward end of the arm 104 of the timinglever 101 and permits the same to be swung on its pin 103, whereby its arm 104 is lifted and'its arm 100 moved forward and whereby,

also, the timin -piece 98 is moved forward and the forward portion of the leaf 97, interposed between the trigger and the rear end 96 of the sear 93. Now when the trigger is pulled the timing-piece will be lifted against the tension of the spring 106 until the leaf 97 is brought into engagement with the end 96 of the sear, which is then operated for the retraction of its forward end 92 from the cockeration of the gun as a who e.

the user as any gun, for the reason that only ing-notch 91 in the hammer 89 which is released to the action of the flat hammersprmg 109, which is connected at its forward end with the hammer by means of a link 110 and secured at its rear end to the lower tang 7 by means of a screw 111 and regulated in tension by a screw 112. At the very start of the opening movement of the breech-block its cam 105 will ride over the arm 104 of the timing-lever 101, which will be swuru on its pin 103, so as to retract the leaf 97 of the timing-piece 98 from its position between the trigger 95 and the end 96 of the sear. Now if the trigger is pulled the sear will not be operated, as its operation re uires the intermediation of the leaf 97. 'liis timing device, therefore, prevents the trigger from bein operated except when the gun is closed. I also provide the gun with a safety in the form of a lever 113, suspended by its upper end from a pivot 1 14 in the lower tang 7 and having its lower end entered into a slot 115 in the forward reach of the trigger-guard 116, which is a part of the said lower tang. The said lever 115 is formed with a stop-shoulder 117', coacting with a stop-finger 118 at the forward end of the trigger. When the safety 113 is pushed rearwardly, its shoulder 117 is moved under the finger 118, whereby the triggeris locked against operation under any circumstances. A sear-spring 119, secured to the lower tang by a'screw 120, extends forward into position to engage with the rear end 96 of the sear for the o erati on thereof. 4

The operation 0 the several arts of my improved automatic firearm has een so fully described in conjunction with the description of their construction that it seems unnecessary to give a detailed descri tion of the o It may e said, however, that the gun must be manually opened by its handle 10 for the introduction of the first cartridge into the guniarrel. Now when the gun is fired the gases resulting from the explosion of the cartridge will automatically operate the breech me anism, so as to extract and eject the ent shell, introduce another cartridge intb the gun-barrel, cook the hammer, close the n, and also permit another cartridge to m ve out upon the cartridge-carrier preparato to being loaded into the gun-b arrel; yet notwithstanding the automatic character of the gun it remains as much under the control of one shot can be fired by any one operation of the trigger. Thus when the trigger is pulled its rear end is lifted for the operation of the sear in releasing the hammer, which has hardly fallen before the breech-block has 0 erated the timing-lever so as to retract the leaf 97 of the timing-piece from its operatin position between the trigger and the rear en of the sear. Now, although the hammer may be recocked the gun cannot be fired un- 13 til the user has let up, so to speak, on the trigger and allowed the same to swing downward and forward sufficiently to permit the coupling-leaf to again move forward into position between the trigger and the sear.

It is apparent that in carrying out my nvention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself thereto, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatic firearm having the righthand side wall of its gun-frame formed near its forward end with an ejection-opening, and its left-hand side wall formed near its forward end with a gas-escape opening which latter extends alongside of the forward end of the breech-block of the gun when the said breech-block is in its closed position, whereby the escape of gas is provided for when the breech-block is in its closed position.

2. An automatic firearm having the righthand side wall of its gun-frame formed with an ejection-o ening and the left-hand side wall thereof ormed with a gas-opening and its top formed witlra handle-o ening, and its bottom being made open for t e reception of the lower tang and for the production in front of the said tang,, of a loading-opening, the said gas-escape opening being located to rovide for the escape of gas when the reech-block of the gun is in its closed position.

3. In a balanced breech-block automatic firearm, the combination with a gun-frame formed with aside ejection-opening and having its top closed at the front and rear except for a handle-opening, of a non-rotatable balanced breech-block, and a handle attached directly to the top of the breech-block and moving back and forth in the handle-opening which is closed by the block when the same is in its closed posit on, whereby the entire top of the frame is closed. when the block is in its closed position, and closed, except for the handle-opening, when the-block is in its open osition.

4. n a balanced breech-block firearm, the combination with a gun-frame having a handle-opening in its top and closed at its rear end to rovide a recoil-abutment, of a nonrotatab e balanced breech-block, and a handle secured to the breech-block through the said handle-opening which is closed by the block when the same is in its closed position, the said handle-opening being located to the rear of the front end. of the frame and the handle being secured to the block to the rear of the forward end thereof, whereby-the top of the frame over the forward end of the block when the same is in its closed position, is left solid.

5. In an automatic firearm, the combination'with a gunframe having its rear end closed to form a recoil-abutment for the breech-block and formed in its right-hand side wall with an ejection-opening, in its left-hand side wall with a gas-escape o enmg and having a handle-opening locate in its top at a point to the rear of the said gas-escape and ejection openings; of a non-rotatable balanced breech-block, and a handle attached -to the to of the block to the rear of the forward en thereof and moving back and forth in the said handle-opening, the top of the frame in front of the handle-opening being left solid.

6. In a balanced breech-block firearm, the combination with a gun-frame having its rear end closed to form a recoil-abutment for the breechblock, and formed in its top with a handle-o ening located to the rear of its front en of a non-rotatable breech-block formed at its front end with a bolt-like extension or closure, and a handle attached through the said handle-openin to the breechblock at a mint directly in t e rear of the when the breechblock is in its closed osition, is covered by the solid portion 0 the top of the frame in front of the said handleopening.

7. In a balanced breechblock automatic firearm, the combination with a gun-frame having its top formed with a handle-opening located to the rear of its front end and having its rear end closed to form a recoil-abutment for the breech-block; of a non-rotatable balanced breech-block rising into the said handle-opening, and a handle attached through the said handle-opening to the breech-block at a point-to the rear of the front end thereof and overhanging the sides the said handleopening to cover the forward end of the breechblock when the same is in its closed position.

8. In an automatic firearm, the combination' with a reciprocating breech-block, of a lever operating upon the rear end thereof for moving it forward, and a flat spring coacting with the said lever for the operation thereof the forward end of the said spring extending forward over the pivot at the lower end of the lever upon which the spring exerts a forward thrust.

breech-block lever coactm at its upper end with the breech-block, an a flat spring extending forward over the pivot on which the lever swings and coacting with the lever to push the'same forward, a firing-pin mounted said bolt-1i e extension or closure which,

of the frame which is made solid in front of 9. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a reciprocating breech-block, of a in the breech-block, a hammer located for- 16. In an automatic firearm, thc combinaward of the said lever for coaction with the tion with the gun-frame and the lower tang,

said firing-pin, and a hammer-spun g.

10. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a reciprocating breech-block, of a breech-block lever coacting at its upper on with the block and formed with an opening, and a flat sprin extending forward into the said 0 ening an engaging with the lever at a oint in front of the pivot thereof for exertmg a forward push on the lever.

11. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a gun-frame and an up er and a lower tang, of a reciprocating breec i-block, a

{5 breech-block lever coacting at its upper en with the rear end of the block, a flat spring secured to the said upper tang and at its forward end extending over the pivot of the said lever for pushing the same forward, a firingpin mounted in the breech-block, a hammer located in front of the said lever, and a hammer-spring connected with the said lower tang.

12. In an automatic firearm, the combina- 2 5 tion with a reciprocating breech-block, of a breech-block lever coacting at its u per end with the rear end of the breech-blbck and formed with an o ening, of an antifrictionroller located in tie forward portion of the said opening in front of the pivot on which the said lever turns, and a fiat spring having its forward end extended into the said opening of the lever in position to coactwith the said antifriction-roller.

3 5 13. In an automatic firearm, the combination with the gun-frame and the lower tang, of a reciprocating breech-block, a breech block lever pivote in the lower tang and formed with an open ng, of an antifriction- 4o roller carried by the said lever, and a fiat spring secured to the gun-frame and extending forward into the opening in the said lever "and engaging with the said roller and formed with a bevel through which it acts on the 5 said roller to exert a constant effort to push the lever, and hence the breech-block, forward. 14:. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a breech-block, of a swinging and 5c longitudinally-yielding carrier engaged by the said block for being elevated and depressed into its cartridge-delivering and cargun-barrel. tridgereceiving positions.

15. In an automatic gun, the combination with the breecl -block, of a swinging carrier u er engaged by the said block for being swung' into its elevated and depressed positions, an having an elongated ivot-hole and a springchamber extending orward thereof, a pivot a secondary 6o assing through' the said ivot-hole, a spring coated in the said cham er in front of the said pivot, and a carrier-spring, whereby when the carrier is engaged by the breechblock for being swung into its elevated posi- 6 5 tion, it yields longitudinally rearward.

of the block,

said secondary 19. In a arv chamber,

20. In a balanced the combination with a gunframe having its front end ma c osed to form a recoil-abutment, a side e ection-opening located to the rear 0 its front end and its main chamber contracted to form chamber; of a breechblock adapted to enter the said contracted secondan arm depending inging carrier engaged by the arm and adapted to receive the same as the breech-block moves into its closed position.

21. In a firearm, the combination with a block, and a sw of a reciprocating breech-block, a swinging and a longitudinally-yielding carrier mounted in the said tang and vated and depressed positions by the block, and a carrier-spring mounted in the said tang and engaging with the carrier for holding the same in its elevated and depressed positions.

17. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a reciprocating breech-block, of a swinging and longitudinallyyielding carrier formed at its rear end with an upw ardly-ex tending arm for engagement block when the same moves rearward, whereby the carrier is swung into its elevated posiswung into its eleby the said tion and the forward portion of the said carrier being also adapted to be engaged by the said block for swinging the carrier into its depressed position on the forward movement and a carrier-spring coacting with the rear end of the carrier for holding it in its elevated and depressed 18. In a balanced breechlock firearm, the combination with a gun-frame having a side ejection-opening made solid at the top of its front end, a recoil-abutment and having the forward end of its main chamber reduced in dimensions to form a contracted secondary chamber into which the cartridges are tory to being introduced into the gunof a balanced breech-block the forwa' I end of which is reduced to adapt it to enter the ositions.

closed at its rear end to form chamber, an extractor carried by the said reduced forward end of the block, and means for ejecting the extracted shells through the said side ejection-o ening.

balanced breech-block the combination with the barrel thereof, of a gun-frame having the top made solid, having its rear end closed to form a recoil-abutment and end of its main chamber contracted to form a secondary chamb ed at its forward end to enter the said sec ondary chamber, an arm depending from the block, and a swinging carrier engaged said arm for operation thereby, the walls of the contracted secondary chamber confining the cartridges as they are being fed into the earm,

of its front en having the forward er; a breech-block adaptby the breech-block firearm,

de solid, its rear end from the fed pr: aragun-frame having the top of its front end made solid, its rear end closed to form a recoil-abutment, a side ejection-opening located to the rear of its front end and the forward end of its main chamber contracted to form a secondary chamber; of a breechblock adapted to enter the said contracted secondary chamber, an arm depending from the breech-block, a pivotal carrier engaged by the said arm and lifted into its cartridgedelivering position thereb an extractor mounted in the right-hand side of the breechblock at the forward end thereof, and an ejector located in the left-hand wall of the gun-frame.

22. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a reciprocating breech-block, of a hammer, trigger and sear, and a timing mechanism constructed and arranged to be engaged and operated directly by the rear end of the said breech-block for operation thereby, whereby the trigger and sear are operatively connected only when the gun is closed and ready for firing.

23. In an automatic firearm, the combination with a reciprocating breech-block, of a hammer, sear and trigger, a timingelever having an upper and a lower arm, the former being adapted to be enga ed directly by the rear end of the said breech-block for the operation of the lever directly thereby, and a spring-actuated timing-piece carried by the said lower arm of the timing-lever and adapted to be entered between the trigger and the sear for communicating the movement of the former to the latter.

24. In a firearm, the combination with a tubular magazine, of a breech-block, and a cartridge-gate pivoted at. its lower end to swing in a plane at a right angle to the axis of the said magazine, the said gate being opened by the said block when the same moves into its closed position and having an inclined lip to prevent the noses of the cartridges from shearing as they are lifted for introduction into the gun-barrel.

26. In a firearm, the combination with the gun-frame, of a reciprocating breechblock, a breech-block lever, a spring for operating the same, and two antifriction-rollers mounted in the said block on the same axis and respectively engaging with the gunframe and the said lever and operating independently of each other.

27. In a firearm, the combination with thegun-frame, of a reciprocating breechblock, a breech-block lever, a spring for the operation thereof, and three antifriction-rollare mounted on the same axis in the upper rear corner of the breech-block, the central and larger roller being engaged with the said gun-frame and the smaller rollers being engaged with the said lever which clears the said central roller.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM MASON. Witnesses:

FREDERIC C. EARLE,

GEORGE D. SEYMOUR. 

